If you’re struggling to attract and mobilize volunteers, you’re not alone. Many organizations are experiencing the effects of four tech trends that are changing public expectations and behavior. In this webinar, volunteerism expert and international thought leader, Tobi Johnson, shares how successful organizations can attract and sustain volunteer involvement in today’s rapidly-evolving digital world. In this free webinar, Tobi will show you: - How new technology is impacting the public’s expectations of causes and charities - 4 key tech trends that will help you recruit, grow, engage, and recognize volunteers - Low-cost, simple tips to address common volunteer challenges using technology https://www.wildapricot.com

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5. 50,000 membership managers use Wild Apricot everyday
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8. https://volpro.net/volunteer-management-progress-report/

10. +
Need Volunteers? Four Tech Trends
You Need to Know
Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA
Wild Apricot Expert Webinar | February 22, 2018
@TobiJohnsonTJA
@volpronet
#volunteertrends

11. https://volpro.net/volunteer-manag
ement-progress-report/
Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA
President & Founder
VolunteerPro | Tobi Johnson & Associates
tobi@volpro.net
206.799.9038
www.volpro.net

12. +
What We’ll Cover
■ How new technology is impacting the public’s
expectations of causes and charities
■ 4 key tech trends that will help you recruit, grow,
engage, and recognize volunteers
■ Low-cost, simple tips to address common volunteer
challenges using technology

13. +
Big Hat Thinking!
Photo Credit: Eugene-WWE-Superstar, DannyWrestlingRumors.net

14. Big Shifts: Setting the Context

15. +
See: National Center for Charitable Statistic, Quick Facts About Nonprofits,
(2016), Corporation for National & Community Service, Volunteering & Civic Life
in America (2016), CNCS, Urban Institute, Nonprofit Sector in Brief 2015

16. +

17. + Predicted Need for Volunteers in Next 12 Months
See: VolunteerPro, 2017 Volunteer Management Progress Report

18. See: 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer, Executive Summary

19. +“[T]he trust collapse has moved beyond a simple ‘class vs. mass’
problem to a systemic threat. More than three-quarters of
respondents...agree that the system is biased against regular
people and favors the rich and powerful.”
~ Richard Edelman, Edelman Trust Barometer

20. +

21. What If …

22. TREND #1:
The Migration From Desktop to
Mobile

23. +
Our On-Demand World
■ 77% of U.S. adults own a
smartphone
■ Nearly three-quarters of all smart
phone users keep them within five
feet at all times
■ Nearly 40% look at their phones
within five minutes of waking
(90% within one hour)
See: Pew Research Center, 10 facts about smartphones as the iPhone
turns 10, June, 2017), Jumio, 2013 Consumer Mobile Habits Study,
Harris Interactive; 2014 AIMIA Mobile Phone Lifestyle Index

24. +
See: KPCB, Internet Trends Report (2017), 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer,
Executive Summary, We are social, Digital Stats q2 2017

25. We Are All Cyborgs
■ Tools have been and extension of the
physical self
■ Now, smartphones are an extension
of the mental self
■ We must now maintain a digital,
edited, retouched “second self”
■ Its only a matter of time before our
devices can sense our feelings
Photo Credit: Jean-Luc Picard as Borg. Gryffindor/Wikimedia
See: Amber Case, We are all cyborgs now, TED Talk (January 2011)

26. +
3 Simple Things You Can Do
1. Increase usability (micro content, one column,
buttons, video)
2. Offer easy-to-access on-demand content (e.g.,
YouTube channel)
3. Send shorter, more frequent e-newsletters

27. +
1 Big Thing You Can Do
Build a Mobile App for
Volunteers
■ One stop shop for volunteers
■ Use push notifications as reminders
■ Use geo-location to help volunteers choose
■ Use community forum to build social proof

28. +
Case Study – Crisis Text Line
■ Open since 2013
■ 3,500 active crisis
counselors in all time
zones
■ Training & coaching take
place online
■ Online community/social
network helps
volunteers bond

29. TREND #2:
Ever-increasing Automation and
Personalization

30. Personal Power
Limited Limitless

31. Connectivity Paradox
The more connected we become digitally,
the more disconnected we feel on a human level.
Ambient intimacy
Be alone together
Selective attention
Lack of Focus and
Introspection
See: Leonardi, Paul M. , et. al, The Connectivity Paradox: Using Technology to Both
Decrease and Increase Perceptions of Distance in Distributed Work Arrangements,
Journal of Applied Communication Research, Vol. 38, No. 1 (February 2010)

32. +
The Power of Inclusion
AWAY
Threat/
Exclusion
TOWARD
Reward/Inclusi
on
See: Rock, David & Cox, Christine, PhD, SCARF® in 2012: updating the social
neuroscience of collaborating with others, Neuroleadership Journal (2012)

33. +
The High Costs of In Group/Out Group
■ Reduces cognitive functioning & performance
■ Increases self-defeating behavior
■ Less likely to focus on long-term behavior
■ Reduces pro-social behavior & teamwork
■ Less likely to volunteer and donate!
Tessa V. West, Ph.D. (NYU)

34. +
3 Simple Things You Can Do
1. Use first name merge fields in subject lines &
salutations
2. Use email segmenting, tagging & automation to
send tailored, volunteer-centric information
3. Facilitate private online “insider” communities

35. +
1 Big Thing You Can Do
Develop Behavior-Based
Email Campaigns
■ Support the volunteer journey
■ Branch email series based on who clicks what
■ “Abandoned cart” campaigns

36. TREND #3:
Virtual and Augmented Reality Go
Mainstream

37. The Future is Now:
Virtual & Augmented Reality (VR/AR)

39. +
3 Simple Things You Can Do
1. Find ways to offer “mini” experiences
2. Broadcast “behind the scenes” tours (live &
recorded)
3. Create audio content Amazon Voice Service
(& others)

40. +
1 Big Thing You Can Do
Create a Virtual Reality
Recruitment Video
■ “Day in the life” of a volunteer
■ Make headset available in agency lobby, etc.
■ Share at conferences, exhibit booths, etc.

41. +
Case Study – Tom’s Shoes

42. TREND #4:
Our “Kit Culture”

43. +
The “Kit” Culture

44. +
3 Simple Things You Can Do
1. Organize info to help volunteers choose
(availability, interests, timeframe, etc.)
2. Create “Bento-box” offerings/a variety of
pre-packaged projects & “deliverables”
3. Develop modularized training

45. +
Case Study – Drop Down Options

46. +
1 Big Thing You Can Do
Create Support Toolkits
■ Hosted online
■ One kit per volunteer role
■ Easily-labeled training & reference info
■ Get volunteer input on FAQs

47. “Only those who will risk going
too far can possibly find out
how far one can go.”
~ T.S. Elliot

48. + Questions? Comments?
Want More Trends?
Download our free, 45-page
“state-of-the-industry” report here.
https://volpro.net/volunteer-management-progress-report/

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